Drifting - Is it a motorsport?

[JonnyFive]

Following on from this thread;

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Where it was raised that Drifting isn't a motorsport event, there are conflicting views on this.

What are your opinions?

[Mafioso]

Personally I think it's the gayest thing regarding cars. Compare to synchronised swimming - they're not racing, but merely prancing around in unison.

[scampbird]

People compete in it collectively. There are winners and losers. Yes, its a sport, and it involves motorcars.

Any other opinion is pure snobbish idiocy.

Hope that helps.

[denniswise9]

If its a competition, then I would say it is a motorsport.

Sport: An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others.

[wolves_wanderer]

scampbird said:

People compete in it collectively. There are winners and losers. Yes, its a sport, and it involves motorcars.

Any other opinion is pure snobbish idiocy.

Hope that helps.

This.

[Pannywagon]

I've had to accept over the years that rap is musical and to my mind at least, drifting is more motorsport than rap is music so yes, drifting is motorsport.

Edited by Pannywagon on Wednesday 13th July 12:48

[Presuming Ed]

Its a sport and its perfomed using motors, ergo, motorsport

[rpguk]

Mafioso said:

Personally I think it's the gayest thing regarding cars. Compare to synchronised swimming - they're not racing, but merely prancing around in unison.

That may be so, but synchronised swimming is still a sport.

[balls-out]

looks like bl**dy good fun too

[300bhp/ton]

scampbird said:

People compete in it collectively. There are winners and losers. Yes, its a sport, and it involves motorcars.

Any other opinion is pure snobbish idiocy.

Hope that helps.

However the criteria on how they decide a winner or looser is somewhat non sporting. While drifting certainly isn't a clear win/lose like racing or something like tennis with active scores. Drifting seems to be rated on style, maybe akin to figure skating or the like.

However with things like skating and dancing points are also awarded for technical merit. I don't believe this is done in drifting, how a person drives, as in techniques are not part of the scoring system only the "spectacle" or personal bias offers up high marks.

Which I suspect to many will just rank it as showboating with nominations, rather than proper competition or sport.

[spats]

Motorsport.

It has proper organised events, with winners, and loosers via a points system.

Granted its not to everyones tastes, but it takes skill to do.

[JonnyFive]

300bhp/ton said:

However the criteria on how they decide a winner or looser is somewhat non sporting. While drifting certainly isn't a clear win/lose like racing or something like tennis with active scores. Drifting seems to be rated on style, maybe akin to figure skating or the like.

However with things like skating and dancing points are also awarded for technical merit. I don't believe this is done in drifting, how a person drives, as in techniques are not part of the scoring system only the "spectacle" or personal bias offers up high marks.

Which I suspect to many will just rank it as showboating with nominations, rather than proper competition or sport.

Ususually, the angle you get, how close you are (If you're following) to the other driver without going into them, the speed you're going, and smoke is always nice.

[redtwin]

Custom car shows would be motorsports also.

Vehicles equipped with engines with winners determined by judges who award points based on style.

[Pondered Scrotum]

scampbird said:

People compete in it collectively. There are winners and losers. Yes, its a sport, and it involves motorcars.

Any other opinion is pure snobbish idiocy.

Hope that helps.

This

300bhp/ton said:

with things like skating and dancing points are also awarded for technical merit. I don't believe this is done in drifting, how a person drives, as in techniques are not part of the scoring system only the "spectacle" or personal bias offers up high marks.

Which I suspect to many will just rank it as showboating with nominations, rather than proper competition or sport.

I think the judges give technical merit more of a weighting than you think.

What most people who'll be saying it's not a sport will be marking it down on is it's following by young people, who like things like modern music, sugary drinks and loud cars as opposed to the traditional motorsport fan who is portrayed as liking anoraks, thermos flasks and MGs.

In short, it's not the kind of thing someone with mulitple directorships takes his supermodel wife and his TVR to.

Each to their own I say...

Edited by Pondered Scrotum on Wednesday 13th July 13:21

[300bhp/ton]

JonnyFive said:

300bhp/ton said:

However the criteria on how they decide a winner or looser is somewhat non sporting. While drifting certainly isn't a clear win/lose like racing or something like tennis with active scores. Drifting seems to be rated on style, maybe akin to figure skating or the like.

However with things like skating and dancing points are also awarded for technical merit. I don't believe this is done in drifting, how a person drives, as in techniques are not part of the scoring system only the "spectacle" or personal bias offers up high marks.

Which I suspect to many will just rank it as showboating with nominations, rather than proper competition or sport.

Ususually, the angle you get, how close you are (If you're following) to the other driver without going into them, the speed you're going, and smoke is always nice.

So basically either who has the biggest balls or is the most stupid and gets away with it.

[CommanderJameson]

It is or is not a sport in exactly the same way as figure skating is or is not a sport.

[Cotty]

I supose it is a motorsport. But to me racing is about being the first past the finish line.

[Pondered Scrotum]

Cotty said:

I supose it is a motorsport. But to me racing is about being the first past the finish line.

Is Time Attack a motorsport?

Autotrials?

Hillclimbing?

[redtwin]

doogz said:

But the cars aren't used, they aren't driven. What you're saying is, beauty contests are now a sport?

Not the same thing.

Good point.

http://youtu.be/7D2ebidwvWc


Custom car shows with the cars being used (some are driven) with the winner determined by judges awarding points, ergo motorsport.

[JonnyFive]

300bhp/ton said:

So basically either who has the biggest balls or is the most stupid and gets away with it.

Balls, yes. Stupid? No. Skilled..